Well, here’s a thing: the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has produced a report which claims that measures in which New New Labour has no interest, such as "tackling deprivation and boosting social interaction", would be more effective ways of helping immigrants integrate than attempting to implant "a fixed notion of Britishness and British values". Fears about the effects of immigration are more
Popularity: 3% [?]
The House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee has noticed that the United States occasionally resorts to enhanced interrogation techniques and that the Bush administration sometimes practises economy with the truth if not with the US economy. The Committee has apparently noticed this "in the light of the CIA admitting it used ‘waterboarding’"; in other words, now that the US has admitted the use
Popularity: 2% [?]
It appears that the Archbishop of Canterbury is preparing once again to prove himself worthy of the Prime Minister who appointed him. Like the Vicar of Downing Street, Rowan Williams likes to deal with controversies by triangulating; or, in Oldspeak, lurching to the right while passing occasional rhetorical comfort to any liberals foolish enough to stay in bed with him. Regarding the issue of
Popularity: 2% [?]
The Metropolitan Police Authority reports that Scotland Yard is still unable to give an adequate explanation of the execution of Jean Charles de Menezes three years ago. Despite the continued non-resignation of Sir Ian Blair, despite the promotion of Cressida Dick, and despite a criminal trial resulting in a fine which, thanks to the taxpayer, has left comparatively few firearms officers in fuel
Popularity: 2% [?]
The former Minister of Unfitness for Purpose, Charles Clarke, has given vent to a discharge about what’s wrong with our public services. The problem, apparently, is that the Government isn’t making enough money out of them. Clarke, whose most famous contribution to fiscal efficiency is probably this, suggests "user charges" as an alternative to privatisation, since "the assumption, made by many,
Popularity: 2% [?]
Having found itself in yet another hole, the Government has decided, against the habit of a lifetime, to stop digging and leave the taxpayers to make good the damage. A "multimillion pound project designed to improve Britain’s security" (which by now must surely qualify as the most overworked comedy opening since an Englishman, an Irishman and a Scotsman walked into a pub) has been shelved
Popularity: 3% [?]
Robert Mugabe, the ruthless, election-stealing ruler of Zimbabwe, with whom we share few if any values, is utilising civilian contractors in his attempts to intimidate his people into appropriate political positions. This is a Bad Thing, as comparatively few of the contractors work for Blackwater Security. The foreign fighters carry Russian-made guns. This is also a Bad Thing, as Russian-made
Popularity: 4% [?]
Edwina Currie’s little friend, who apparently was something in the Government during the tedious period between Thatcher’s removal from power and the first consecration of the Vicar of Downing Street, has been on television, ruling out a return to public life during the forthcoming Daveybloke administration. Now I know why I didn’t feel the world tremble.
As one interregnum to the other, the
Popularity: 3% [?]
The necessity and nobility of any upcoming military attack on Iran have been gifted with enhanced prodigality by the revelation that any such crusade would not only be another glorious chapter in the War Against Terror, but would also be another glorious chapter in the War On Drugs. The Allies, led by the glorious Royal Navy, have intercepted more than eight hundred million pounds worth of
Popularity: 4% [?]
Anger causes hatred.
Hatred causes violence.
Violence causes headlines.
Headlines cause hysteria.
Hysteria causes fear.
Fear causes plans.
Plans cause measures.
Measures cause actions.
Actions cause reactions.
Reactions cause confusion.
Confusion causes trouble.
Trouble causes problems.
Problems cause annoyance.
Annoyance causes anger.
Popularity: 3% [?]